Compact hairspray product consisting of hairspray concentrate, container and fine spray pump with pre-pressurization

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a compact hair spray product comprising a hair spray concentrate with a viscosity that confers good sprayability, at least one hair-strengthening polymer, an alcoholic solvent for the hair-strengthening polymer, at least one organic solvent additive capable of reducing the viscosity of the concentrate and increasing the vapor pressure of the concentrate and optionally a drying-retarding solvent additive, a pressure-tight and, for the concentrate, diffusion-proof container and a fine-spray pump with a cylinder region made of a material that is resistant to swelling by the organic solvent additive, with a maximum pump lift of 0.12 mL and with pilot pressure buildup.

[0001] The object of the invention is a compact hair spray productcomprising a hair spray concentrate, a pressure-tight anddiffusion-proof container and a fine-spray pump with pilot pressurebuildup.

[0002] Hair spray products are usually sold either as aerosol sprayspacked in aerosol containers and containing propellants or aspropellant-free pump sprays which are sprayed by means of a mechanicalspray pump, the pump lift volume usually being 120-190 μL. Because oftheir better performance and better application properties, aerosolsprays are substantially more important. The conventional aerosol hairsprays, however, have the drawback that such products require relativelylarge and unwieldy containers. This, in turn, leads to unattractive anddifficult-to-configure packaging forms. Commonly used, for example, are250-mL cans made of tinplate or aluminum in conventional cylindricalshape. The relatively large size is due to the comparatively large gasspace which is devoid of active substances and which is needed for thepropellant. Although pump sprays use no propellant and, hence, can besold in less voluminous packages compared to aerosol cans, one has toput up with a definite loss in application properties. Consumers feelthat, compared to aerosol sprays, the common, known pump sprays are forthe most part wetter and coarser and that they have a longer drying timeand a coarser drop spectrum. Their market share is correspondinglysmall. Moreover, because of the relatively low attainable concentrationof the hair-strengthening polymer in aerosol sprays and the need for alarge headspace, it has thus far not been possible to produce compactaerosol hair spray products which in terms of both applicationproperties and economy in use match the aerosol sprays in the usual250-mL package sizes.

[0003] Hair sprays are usually used in the form of polymer solutions inan alcoholic medium. The polymer concentration is relatively limited.According to Schrader, “Grundlagen und Rezepturen der Kosmetika”[Fundamentals and Formulations of Cosmetics], 2nd edition, 1989, page772, the typical polymer content of a hair spray is 2-4%. Higher polymercontents lead to many problems which are due primarily to a markedincrease in viscosity of the composition. For example, when the polymerconcentration is increased, the droplet size of the sprayed compositionbased on the usual alcoholic solvent increases unacceptably to more than100 μm. Good pump hair sprays have an average droplet size of about 80μm, the smaller the better (for example 50 μm). The drawbacks ofexcessively large drops are the wetness effect, the pearl chain effectinvolving the formation of pearl-like droplets which on the hair arevisible, poorly flowing and poorly drying, moreover long drying times,poor distribution on the hair, deterioration of the spray pattern etc.Besides the average droplet size, the droplet size distribution isdetermining for the quality of a hair spray, because even a relativelysmall number of very large drops brings about major drawbacks. Thedv(50) and dv(90) values provide a measure of the droplet sizedistribution. These values give the maximum diameter of 50% or 90% ofall droplets. For typical aerosol hair sprays, the average dv(50) valueis about 40 μm and the average dv(90) value about 75 μm. For typicalpump hair sprays, the average dv(50) value is about 75 μm and theaverage dv(90) value about 120 μm. The dv(90) value, in particular,should not exceed 140 μm and preferably not 130 μm. The sprays willotherwise be perceived as being very wet.

[0004] European Patent EP 0 460 123 A discloses a one-phase solventmixture of C₂-C₄ alcohols, water and a lower alkane, selected from amongn-pentane, n-hexane and isohexane. This solvent mixture can be used innon-aerosol hair sprays. Hair spray concentrates and compact hair spraysare not described.

[0005] Desirable therefore are small, compact hair spray products whichcompared to the usual aerosol sprays and the usual pump hair sprayspresent a comparable economy of use at a fraction of the containervolume, while at the same time presenting application properties, forexample a strengthening efficacy and spray performance, that do not havethe drawbacks of common pump hair sprays, but approximate those ofaerosol sprays and, from the standpoint of environmental protection,also present a desirable, improved volatile organic compound [VOC]balance.

[0006] We have now found that this objective can be reached by use of acompact hair spray product comprising a special hair spray concentrate,a pressure-tight and diffusion-proof container and a special fine-spraypump with pilot pressure buildup.

[0007] The object of the invention therefore is a compact hair sprayproduct comprising

[0008] (A) a hair spray concentrate having a viscosity permitting goodsprayability and containing

[0009] (a1) at least one hair-strengthening polymer,

[0010] (a2) an alcoholic solvent for polymer (a1),

[0011] (a3) at least one organic solvent additive capable of reducingthe viscosity of the concentrate and increasing the vapor pressure ofthe concentrate, and

[0012] (B) a pressure-tight and, for concentrate (A), diffusion-proofcontainer and

[0013] (C) a fine-spray pump with

[0014] (c1) a cylindrical region made of a material that resistsswelling by the organic solvent additive (a3),

[0015] (c2) a maximum lift of 0.12 mL and

[0016] (c3) pilot pressure buildup.

[0017] The hair spray concentrate preferably also contains adrying-retarding solvent additive (a4).

[0018] The object of the present invention is eminently suited for theproduction of hair spray products of compact design, for example with avolume of 40 to 60 mL, presenting an economy of use approximating thatof typical 250-300 mL aerosol hair spray cans.

[0019] For purposes of the invention, by compact hair spray product ismeant a hair spray product of more compact design than that of a typicalaerosol hair spray, namely a product with a filling volume of less than250 mL and particularly of at the most 150 mL. Preferred are fillingvolumes from 10 to 100 mL, particularly from 20 to 80 mL and especiallyfrom 40 to 60 mL. For purposes of the invention, by hair sprayconcentrate is meant a composition comprising at least onehair-strengthening polymer at a concentration that is higher than thatof common hair sprays which typically is 4 wt. % and for hair lacquers 6wt. %. The polymer concentration is preferably higher than 8% wt. % andparticularly higher than 10 wt. %, based on the total composition. Themaximum polymer concentration is preferably 20 wt. %.

[0020] For purposes of the invention, by viscosity permitting goodsprayability is meant a viscosity at which the average droplet sizeobtained with a Seaquist-Perfect PZ1/100 HVT fine-spray pump is lessthan 100 μm and preferably less than 80 μm or for which the dv(90) valueis at the most 140 μm and preferably at the most 130 μm. The averagedroplet size and droplet size distribution can be determined, forexample, with the aid of a particle-sizing instrument based on laserradiation diffraction, for example a Malvern Particle Sizer instrument.The preferred kinematic viscosity is at the most 10 mm².s, andpreferably at the most 5 mm².s, determined with a RheoStress 100rotational viscometer, supplied by Haake, at a temperature of 25° C. anda shear gradient from 0.5 to 1400 s⁻¹.

[0021] Suitable hair-strengthening polymers are selected from the groupconsisting of synthetic or natural or modified natural polymers which ineach case can have a nonionic, cationic, anionic or amphotericcharacter. A mixture of several of these polymers can also be used.According to the invention, by hair-strengthening polymer is meant apolymer which when used in the form of a 0.01 to 5% aqueous, alcoholicor aqueous-alcoholic solution is capable of depositing a polymer film onthe hair thus strengthening the hair.

[0022] Suitable synthetic, nonionic, film-forming, hair-strengtheningpolymers are, for example, the homopolymers of vinylpyrrolidone,vinylcaprolactam or N-vinylformamide. Other suitable syntheticfilm-forming, nonionic, hair-strengthening polymers are, for example,the copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate, the terpolymers ofvinylpyrrolidone, vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate, polyacrylamidesold, for example, by CHEM-Y, Emmerich, under the tradename Akyponine® P191 and by Seppic under the tradename Sepigel® 305; polyvinyl alcoholssold, for example, by Du Pont under the tradename Elvanol® or by AirProducts under the tradename Vinol® 523/540; and polyethyleneglycol/polypropylene glycol copolymers sold, for example, by UnionCarbide under the tradename Ucon®.

[0023] Suitable natural or modified natural, film-forming polymers withhair-strengthening action are, for example, the chitosans with amolecular weight from 20,000 to about 5 million g/mol. Moreover, varioussaccharide types can be used, such as polysaccharides or mixtures ofoligo-, mono- and disaccharides, sold, for example, by Cerestar,Brussels, under the tradename C-PUR®. Other suitable natural polymersare Chinese balsamic resin, guar or guar derivatives and cellulosederivatives, for example hydroxypropylcellulose, with a molecular weightfrom 30,000 to 50,000 g/mol, sold, for example, by Lehmann & Voss,Hamburg, under the tradename Nisso S1®. Another natural polymer isshellac which can be used in neutralized, partly neutralized ornon-neutralized form.

[0024] Suitable anionic polymers contain acid groups that can beneutralized with appropriate bases. The acid groups are preferablyselected from among —COOH,—SO₃H,—OSO₃H,—OPO₂H and —OPO₃H₂. Carboxylicacid groups are particularly preferred. From 50 to 100% of the acidgroups are preferably in anionic or neutralized form. The neutralizingagent can be any organic or inorganic base suitable for cosmeticpurposes. Examples of bases are aminoalcohols, for exampleaminomethylpropanol (AMP), triethanolamine or monoethanolamine, andammonia, NaOH etc.

[0025] The hair-strengthening anionic polymer can be a natural orsynthetic homopolymer or copolymer with acid groups-containing monomerunits optionally copolymerized with comonomers devoid of acid groups.Suitable monomers are unsaturated compounds capable of undergoing freeradical-initiated polymerization and which bear at least one acid group,particularly carboxyvinyl monomers. Suitable acid groups-containingmonomers are, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonicacid, itaconic acid, maleic acid or maleic anhydride or a monoesterthereof, fumaric acid or a monoester thereof, aldehydocarboxylic acidsor ketocarboxylic acids. Other suitable anionic polymers are the anionicpolyurethanes.

[0026] Comonomers not bearing acid groups as substituents are, forexample, acrylamide, methacrylamide, alkyl and dialkylacrylamide, alkyland dialkylmethacrylamide, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate,vinylcaprolactone, vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol,propylene glycol or ethylene glycol, amino-substituted vinyl monomers,for example dialkylaminoalkyl acrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate,monoalkylaminoalkyl acrylate and monoalkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, thealkyl groups of these monomers preferably being C₁-C₇ -alkyl groups andparticularly C₁-C₃-alkyl groups.

[0027] Suitable anionic polymers are, in particular, the followingcompounds, non-crosslinked or crosslinked with polyfunctional agents:homopolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, copolymers of acrylicacid or methacrylic acid and monomers selected from among acrylate ormethacrylate esters, acrylamides, methacrylamides and vinylpyrrolidone,homopolymers of crotonic acid and copolymers of crotonic acid andmonomers selected from among vinyl esters, acrylate or methacrylateesters, acrylamides, methacrylamides and copolymers with polyethyleneoxide. A suitable natural polymer is, for example, shellac.

[0028] Preferred anionic polymers are crosslinked or non-crosslinkedvinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers (INCI¹ name: VA/crotonatescopolymer) and vinyl acetate/crotonic acid/polyethylene oxidecopolymers. Also preferred are the partially esterified copolymers ofvinyl methyl ether and maleic anhydride, for example methyl vinylether/monoethyl maleate ester or monobutyl maleate ester copolymer (INCIname: ethyl ester of PVM/MA copolymer, butyl ester of PVM/MA copolymer).Other suitable anionic polymers are, for example, the copolymers ofacrylic acid, alkyl acrylates and N-alkylacrylamide (INCI name:acrylates/acrylamide copolymer), particularly acrylic acid/ethylacrylate/N-tert.butylacrylamide terpolymers, and copolymers of one ormore C₁-C₅-alkyl acrylates, particularly C₂-C₄-alkyl acrylates andacrylic acid or methacrylic acid (INCI name: acrylates copolymer),particularly methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate/butyl acrylate terpolymers.Also suitable are the terpolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonate and vinylalkanoate, particularly vinyl acetate/crotonate/vinyl neodecanoatecopolymers or vinyl acetate/crotonate/vinyl propionate copolymers (INCInames: VA/crotonates/vinyl neodecanoate copolymer andVA/crotonates/vinyl propionate copolymer).

[0029] Suitable amphoteric polymers are those which besides acid oranionic groups contain as additional functional groups basic or cationicgroups, particularly primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary aminogroups. Examples of these are the copolymers derived from analkylacrylamide (particularly octylacrylamide), an alkylaminoalkylmethacrylate (particularly tert.butylaminoalkyl methacrylate) and two ormore monomers consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or an esterthereof (INCI name: octylacrylamide/acrylates/butylaminoethylmethacrylate copolymer) supplied, for example, by NATIONAL STARCH, USA,under the tradename Amphomer® or Amphomer® LV-71. Other suitableamphoteric polymers are the copolymers derived from at least one monomerof the first kind containing quaternary amino groups and at least onemonomer of the second kind containing acid groups. Examples of suchcopolymers are the copolymers of acrylic acid, methyl acrylate andmethacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (INCI: name:polyquaternium 47), such as those sold by Calgon under the tradenameMerquat® 2001, copolymers of acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chlorideand acrylates, for example those sold by Stockhausen under thecommercial name W 37194, or the copolymers of acrylamide,acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride, 2-amidopropylacrylamidesulfonate and dimethylaminopropylamine (INCI name: polyquaternium 43),sold for example, by Societe Francaise Hoechst under the tradenameBozequat® 4000. Also suitable are the polymers bearing betaine groups,for example the copolymers of methacryloylethylbetaine and two or moremonomers derived from acrylic acid or a simple ester thereof, knownunder the INCI name of methacryloyl ethyl betaines/acrylates copolymer.

[0030] Suitable polymers with basic groups preferably have a molecularweight of at least 50,000 g/mol and particularly from 100,000 to6,000,000 g/mol and they have nitrogen-containing groups, for exampleprimary, secondary or tertiary amino groups. The basic polymers can bepartly or completely neutralized with a suitable cosmetically compatibleacid and thus be in the cationic form. Suitable acids are, for example,formic acid, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, lactic acid etc. The basicgroup is either contained in the polymer chain or, preferably, is asubstituent of one or several monomers. The polymer with basic groupscan be a natural or synthetic homopolymer or copolymer withamine-substituted monomer units and optionally nonbasic comonomers.Suitable polymers with basic groups are, for example, the copolymers ofamine-substituted vinyl monomers and non-amine-substituted monomers.Amine-substituted vinyl monomers are, for example, dialkylaminoalkylacrylate, dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, monoalkylaminoalkyl acrylateand monoalkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, the alkyl groups of these monomerspreferably being lower alkyl groups such as, for example, C₁-C₇-alkylgroups and particularly C₁-C₃-alkyl groups.

[0031] Non-amine-substituted comonomers are, for example, acrylamide,methacrylamide, alkyl and dialkyl acrylamide, alkyl and dialkylmethacrylamide, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, vinylcaprolactone,vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol, maleic anhydride,propylene glycol or ethylene glycol, the alkyl groups of these monomerspreferably being C₁-C₇-alkyl groups and particularly C₁-C₃-alkyl groups.

[0032] Suitable polymers with cationic groups preferably containquaternary amino groups. The cationic polymers can be homopolymers orcopolymers, wherein the quaternary nitrogen groups are contained eitherin the polymer chain or preferably as a substituent of one or moremonomers. The ammonium groups-containing monomers can be copolymerizedwith the above-said non-amine-substituted monomers. Suitableammonium-substituted vinyl monomers are, for example,trialkylmethacryloxyalkylammonium, trialkylacryloxyalkylammonium,dialkyldiallylammonium and quaternary vinylammonium monomers withcyclic, cationic nitrogen-containing groups, such as pyridinium orimidazolium, or quaternary pyrrolidones, for examplealkylvinylimidazolium, alkylvinylpyridinium, or alkylvinylpyrrolidonesalts. The alkyl groups of these monomers are preferably lower alkylgroups, for example C₁-C₇-alkyl groups, and particularly C₁-C₃-alkylgroups.

[0033] Suitable polymers with quaternary amino groups are, for example,the polymers described in the CTFA² Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary underthe name polyquaternium, such as methylvinylimidazolium chloride/vinylpyrrolidone copolymer (polyquaternium 16), quaternizedvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer(polyquaternium 11), homopolymers and copolymers ofdimethyldiallylammonium chloride (polyquaternium 6 and 7), quaternizedhydroxyethylcellulose (polyquaternium 10) or quaternized guarderivatives.

[0034] Suitable among the cationic polymers that can be contained in thecomposition of the invention is, for example,polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer. Othercationic polymers are, for example, the copolymer ofpolyvinylpyrrolidone and imidazolimine methochloride, the terpolymer ofdimethyldiallylammonium chloride, sodium acrylate and acrylamide, theterpolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate andvinylcaprolactam, quaternized ammonium salts of hydroxyethylcelluloseand a trimethylammonium-substituted epoxide andvinylpyrrolidone/methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloridecopolymers.

[0035] Other suitable hair-strengthening polymers are the copolymers ofvinylpyrrolidone, vinylcaprolactam and a dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamidewherein the alkyl groups preferably contain 1 to 3 carbon atoms.Particularly preferred are the terpolymers of vinylpyrrolidone,vinylcaprolactam and dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide. (DMAPMA) sold byISP under the tradename Aquaflex® SF-40.

[0036] The hair-strengthening polymers preferred for the compact hairsprays of the invention are selected from among the copolymers ofacrylates and acrylate hydroxyesters, copolymers of methyl vinyl etherand an alkyl monoester of maleic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid ormethacrylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate, copolymersof vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, copolymers of vinyl acetate andcrotonic acid, copolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and vinylalkanoates, copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and an alkylacrylate or alkyl methacrylate and an acrylamide or methacrylamide,polyvinylcaprolactam, vinylpyrrolidonelvinyl acetate copolymers,copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylcaprolactam anddialkylaminoalkylacrylamides or dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamides,shellac, copolymers of alkylacrylamides, alkylaminoalkyl methacrylatesand two or more monomers consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid oran ester thereof and acrylate/acrylamide copolymers and mixtures of saidpolymers. Particularly preferred among these are the hair-strengtheningpolymers selected from among acrylate/acrylamide copolymers, thecopolymers of alkylacrylamides, alkylaminoalkyl methacrylates and two ormore monomers consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or an esterthereof, copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonic acid, copolymers ofvinyl acetate, crotonic acid and vinyl alkanoates, each in an amount of8 to 30 wt. %, and polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers in anamount of more than 10 to 30 wt. %.

[0037] The hair-strengthening polymer is preferably used in an amountgreater than 4 wt. %, more preferably greater than 8 to 30 wt. % andparticularly greater than 10 to 20 wt. %. The polymer is soluble ordispersible in the solvent mixture of the invention.

[0038] Suitable alcoholic solvents are C₁-C₄-alcohols, namely methanol,ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol and butanol, of which ethanol andisopropanol are particularly preferred. The alcoholic solvent ispreferably used in an amount from 20 to 80 wt. %, more preferably from40 to 75 wt. % and particularly from 50 to 70 wt. %.

[0039] An essential component of the compact hair spray product of theinvention is an organic solvent additive which is liquid under normalconditions (20° C., 1013 mbar) and which reduces the viscosity of thehair spray concentrate while at the same time increasing the vaporpressure of said concentrate. This solvent additive is preferably usedin an amount from 1 to 50 wt. %, more preferably from 4 to 40 wt. % andparticularly from 8 to 30 wt. %. Suitable additives are, in particular,the linear, branched or cyclic C₅or C₆ alkanes or mixtures thereof,namely n-pentane, isopentane, neopentane, n-hexane, or the branchedhexane isomers. Particularly preferred are the pentanes, particularlyn-pentane. These additives reduce the viscosity of the concentratedpolymer composition. A markedly higher-than-usual concentration isrequired to make a compact design possible. Because of the reducedviscosity of the hair spray concentrate, the resistance to flow isreduced when the spray pump is actuated so that more energy is availablefor atomizing the concentrate, which presumably is the reason for afiner spray and a reduced droplet size. As a result of the reduced vaporpressure of the overall composition, part of the solvent vaporizesspontaneously at the exit from the spray nozzle, which leads to afurther reduction in droplet size and better nebulization of the spray.The vapor pressure of the organic solvent additive must thus be higherthan that of the solvent used, but low enough to ensure that undernormal conditions the additive is in liquid form. When substances thatare gaseous at room temperature are used, a compact design is notfeasible because of the gas space required. Moreover, under normalconditions, gaseous substances such as the common propellants propaneand butane have the drawback that they vaporize immediately upon exitingthe nozzle so that essentially only the concentrate reaches the hair,said concentrate not flowing adequately on the hair because of itsviscosity.

[0040] Another preferred component of the compact hair spray product ofthe invention is a solvent additive capable of retarding drying (a4).Without this additive, the sprayed-on composition dries too fast on thetreated hair, the sprayed-on composition does not flow sufficiently onthe hair and as a result the phenomenon known as the pearl chain effecttakes place. This means that only pointwise polymer depositions areobserved on the hair, and there is no sufficient film formation andcross-linking of the hair. Water is the preferred drying-retardingadditive. Other liquid, drying time-extending substances are alsoconceivable, for example polyhydric alcohols, such as, for example,glycols, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycols, or glycerol oreven longer-chain alcohols. The drying-retarding solvent additive ispreferably used in an amount from 1 to 20 wt. %, more preferably from 2to 16 wt. % and particularly from 4 to 12 wt. %.

[0041] The hair spray concentrate according to the invention can containadditional, common cosmetic additives, for example plasticizers such asglycerol, glycol, phthalate esters or citrate esters, perfumes, perfumeoils, light-protective agents, UV filters, hair-care additives,combability improvers, moisturizers, dyes, corrosion inhibitors,antioxidants and preservatives, each in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt. %,the total amount of additives ranging from 0.01 to 20 wt. %.

[0042] The container of the compact hair spray product of the inventioncan be made of any material as long as the material is sufficientlyresistant to the slightly elevated internal pressure, brought about bythe vapor pressure-raising organic solvent additive, and sufficientlydiffusion-proof for the organic solvent additive. Suitable materialsare, for example, the metals usually employed for aerosol packages, suchas aluminum or tinplate. Preferred, however, are transparent or at leasttranslucent materials allowing the product consistency and/or amount ofcomposition in the container to be seen from the outside. The productcontainer is preferably made essentially of polyethylene terephthalate(PET)

[0043] The spray pump used for the compact hair spray product of theinvention has a maximum lift of 0.12 mL, preferably from 0.075 to 0.115mL and particularly from 0.08 to 0.11 mL. Moreover, the spray pump is ofthe pilot pressure buildup design, meaning that when the pump isactuated, the pressure is allowed to build up before the spray isreleased. This results in a finer spray and further reduction in dropletsize.

[0044] The composition of the hair spray concentrate places specialrequirements on the material of which the spray pump is made. Thecylinder of a common spray pump for pump hair sprays is made of aplastic such as, for example, polypropylene, which can swell in contactwith the organic solvent additives, for example pentane. Such a standardpump fails after some time. According to the invention, a spray pump isused which in the cylinder region is made of a material that essentiallyresists swelling by the organic solvent additive. Such a material is,for example, polyoxymethylene (POM). A spray pump suitable according tothe invention is, for example, the Seaquist-Perfect PZ1 /100 HVTfine-spray pump.

[0045] In contrast to the common spray pumps, a venting orifice is notneeded, because the gas space formed upon emptying is filled by thehighly volatile, evaporating organic solvent additive, and no air needsto be introduced. Even though the presence of a venting orifice isacceptable because the slight loss of organic solvent additive, a pumpwithout a venting orifice is preferred.

[0046] The compact hair spray product of the invention is characterizedin that it permits the production of hair spray products of compactdesign, that compared to conventional pump sprays it generates a lesspronounced wetness effect and dries in a shorter time, and that in termsof application properties it approximates the conventional hair sprays.It can thus be viewed as a novel product type between a conventionalpump hair spray and a conventional aerosol hair spray.

[0047] A few essential properties of a typical compact hair sprayproduct of the invention are presented in the following table incomparison with the properties of a common pump hair spray and a commonaerosol hair spray. Compact Pump Aerosol Hair Hair Hair Spray SpraySpray Polymer content, wt. % 10-20 3-8 2-6 Packing volume, mL 60 150 250Amount applied, g 1.5 3.5 5.0 No. of applications/100 mL 52 24 14Economy of use 4-fold 2-fold 1-fold Applications/package 31 36 35dv(50), μm about 78 about 80 about 39 Drying time good poor good

[0048] Compared to the common pump spray, the compact spray of theinvention has about twice the economy of use and shows substantiallybetter drying approximating that obtained with an aerosol hair spray.Compared to a common aerosol spray, the economy of use is even fourtimes higher.

[0049] The following examples will illustrate the object of theinvention in greater detail.

EXAMPLES Example 1

[0050] Hair spray concentrate: 20.0 g of pentane 12.0 g ofacrylates/acrylamide copolymer (Ultrahold ® 8, BASF) 5.0 g of water 1.16g of aminomethylpropanol 0.45 g of perfume 0.36 g of dimethiconecopolyol 0.36 g of triethyl citrate to 100 g ethanol

[0051] The hair spray concentrate was charged to a tubular 40-mLcontainer made of translucent polyethylene terephthalate. The chargedcontainer was provided with a fine-spray pump, model Seaquist-PerfectPZ1/100 HVT, with a pump lift of 0.1 mL.

Example 2

[0052] Hair spray concentrate: 20.0 g of pentane 15.0 g ofacrylates/acrylamide copolymer (Ultrahold ® 8, BASF) 5.0 g of water 1.45g of aminomethylpropanol 0.45 g of perfume 0.45 g of dimethiconecopolyol 0.45 g of triethyl citrate to 100 g ethanol

[0053] The hair spray concentrate was charged to a tubular 60-mLcontainer made of translucent polyethylene terephthalate. The chargedcontainer was provided with a fine-spray pump, model Seaquist-PerfectPZ1 /100 HVT, with a pump lift of 0.1 mL. The number of applications wasclose to that from a 250-mL aerosol spray can. The following values weredetermined for the droplet size distribution: dv(50)=78 μm, dv(90)=109μm.

Example 3

[0054] Hair spray concentrate: 20.0 g of pentane 12.0 g of vinylacetate/crotonic acid/vinyl neodecanoate terpolymer (Resyn 28-2930,National Starch) 5.0 g of water 1.24 g of aminomethylpropanol 0.45 g ofperfume 0.72 g of dimethicone copolyol to 100 g ethanol

[0055] The hair spray concentrate was charged to a tubular 40-mLcontainer made of translucent polyethylene terephthalate. The chargedcontainer was provided with a fine-spray pump, model Seaquist-PerfectPZ1/100 HVT, with a pump lift of 0.1 mL.

Example 4

[0056] Hair spray concentrate: 20.0 g of pentane 15.0 g of VA/crotonatescopolymer (Resyn 28-1310, National Starch) 5.0 g of water 1.55 g ofaminomethylpropanol 0.45 g of perfume 0.90 g of triethyl citrate to 100g ethanol

[0057] The hair spray concentrate was charged to a tubular 60-mLcontainer made of translucent polyethylene terephthalate. The chargedcontainer was provided with a fine-spray pump, model Seaquist-PerfectPZ1/100 HVT, with a pump lift of 0.1 mL. The number of applications wasclose to that from a 250-mL aerosol spray can.

Patent claims
 1. Compact hair spray product comprising (A) a hair sprayconcentrate having a viscosity permitting good sprayability andcontaining (a1) at least one hair-strengthening polymer, (a2) analcoholic solvent for polymer (a1), (a3) at least one organic solventadditive liquid under normal conditions and capable of reducing theviscosity of the concentrate and increasing the vapor pressure of theconcentrate, and (B) a pressure-tight and, for concentrate (A),diffusion-proof container and (C) a fine-spray pump with (c1) acylindrical region made of a material resistant to swelling by theorganic solvent additive (a3), (c2) a maximum lift of 0.12 mL and (c3)pilot pressure buildup.
 2. Compact hair spray product according to claim1, characterized in that the concentration of the hair-strengtheningpolymer (a1) is higher than 10 wt. %, based on the hair sprayconcentrate (A).
 3. Compact hair spray product according to claim 1 or2, characterized in that the hair-strengthening polymers are selectedfrom among the copolymers of acrylates and acrylate hydroxyesters,copolymers of methyl vinyl ether and an alkyl monoester of maleic acid,copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and alkyl acrylate oralkyl methacrylate esters, copolymers of vinyl acetate and crotonicacid, copolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acid and vinyl alkanoates,copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and alkyl acrylate oralkyl methacrylate esters and acrylamides or methacrylamides,polyvinylcaprolactam, vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers,copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylcaprolactam anddialkylaminoalkylacrylamides or dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylamides,shellac, copolymers of alkylacrylamides, alkylaminoalkyl methacrylatesand two or more monomers consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid oran ester thereof, and acrylate/acrylamide copolymers, and mixtures ofsaid polymers.
 4. Compact hair spray product according to claim 3,characterized in that the hair-strengthening polymers are selected fromamong acrylate/acrylamide copolymers, copolymers of alkylacrylamides,alkylaminoalkyl methacrylates and two or more monomers consisting ofacrylic acid, methacrylic acid or an ester thereof, copolymers of vinylacetate and crotonic acid, copolymers of vinyl acetate, crotonic acidand vinyl alkanoates, each in an amount of 8 to 30 wt. %, andpolyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers in an amount of more than10 to 30 wt. %.
 5. Compact hair spray product according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that the alcoholic solvent (a2) isselected from among monohydric C₁-C₄-alcohols and mixtures thereof. 6.Compact hair spray product according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the organic solvent additive (a3) is selected fromamong linear, branched or cyclic C₅-C₆ hydrocarbons and mixturesthereof.
 7. Compact hair spray product according to claim 6,characterized in that the organic solvent additive (a3) is selected fromamong n-pentane, isopentane and neopentane and mixtures thereof. 8.Compact hair spray product according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the hair spray concentrate contains additionally adrying-retarding solvent additive.
 9. Compact hair spray productaccording to claim 8, characterized in that the drying-retarding solventadditive (a4) is water.
 10. Compact hair spray product according to oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure-tight anddiffusion-proof container (B) is made essentially of a transparent ortranslucent material.
 11. Compact hair spray product according to claim10, characterized in that the pressure-tight and diffusion-proofcontainer (B) is made essentially of polyethylene terephthalate. 12.Compact hair spray product according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the cylindrical region of the fine-spray pump withpilot pressure buildup (C) contains polyoxymethylene asswelling-resistant material.
 13. Compact hair spray product according toone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lift of thefine-spray pump with pilot pressure buildup (C) is at the most 0.11 mL.